Work to restore waterways in the Magalloway reaches far downstream

Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust Advances River Restoration in Maine’s Kennebago and Magalloway Watersheds

By Maine News Now Staff

October 5, 2026

In an effort to restore the health of two of Maine’s most prized streams, the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust (RLHT) has begun replacing aging culverts with open‑bottom bridges along the Kennebago River and plans similar work in the newly conserved Magalloway River. The project, part of a broader $62 million conservation initiative that secured 78,000 acres in northern Oxford County, aims to improve fish habitat, reduce erosion, and protect water quality downstream.

The Problem with Old Culverts

Decades of logging left a legacy of straightened waterways and concrete culverts that obstruct fish migration. In the Kennebago conservation area, surveys by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife showed a stark imbalance: one side of a culvert held more than 130 brook trout, while the opposite side had only two. “It was clearly a barrier,” said Jason Latham, RLHT’s conservation biologist. “A lot of studies have shown that, you know, perhaps a few individuals that are more determined can make it through them, but the vast majority don’t.”

The culverts, often perched high above the riverbed, require trout to jump into a pipe and navigate a confined space to continue upstream—a task that most fish cannot accomplish. In addition, the concrete structures can become overwhelmed during heavy rain. “When heavy rain hits the forest, like in the storms that drenched the region in 2023, the culverts can only handle so much water at a time,” Latham explained. The excess water can erode soil around the pipe, depositing sediment downstream and degrading water quality.

Replacing Culverts with Open‑Bottom Bridges

RLHT’s solution is to install open‑bottom bridges that mimic a natural streambed, allowing fish to swim freely and re‑connect miles of upstream habitat. “By replacing these culverts and building these open‑bottom bridges and replicating sort of that natural condition of the stream, we’re essentially reconnecting miles of upstream habitat for species like brook trout,” Latham said. The trust has already replaced nine culverts in the Kennebago preserve, with three remaining on its property. Work there serves as a model for the Magalloway, where the same restoration techniques are planned.

The bridges not only benefit aquatic life; they also enhance flood resilience. Open‑bottom designs accommodate higher flows, reducing the risk of overflow and downstream erosion—an important consideration given the area’s history of heavy rainfall.

Straightening the Magalloway

The Magalloway River, which begins at the confluence of its West and Third East Branches in Bowman Township, runs more than 40 miles through the unorganized territories of Oxford County, New Hampshire, and back into Maine before joining the Androscoggin River. Like the Kennebago, the Magalloway was heavily modified by logging, resulting in long, channel‑like stretches that lack the natural riffles and woody debris that provide habitat and slow water flow.

To correct these straightened sections, RLHT plans to log trees into portions of the waterways to create natural barriers—an approach already proven successful on the Kennebago. The restoration of these features will help slow runoff, reduce erosion, and create a more diverse stream environment for brook trout and other native species.

A Larger Conservation Context

The restoration work comes after a July 2026 joint effort by four organizations—RLHT, the Forest Society of Maine, The Nature Conservancy, and Northeast Wilderness Trust—to conserve 78,000 acres around the Magalloway. The groups, which formed the Magalloway Collaborative in spring 2025, raised the $62 million needed to acquire development rights for the land.

“Everything flows down to the communities that are even more populated below us,” said Molly Shaw, RLHT’s communications director. “Communities such as Bethel, Rumford, Livermore Falls and Lewiston all receive water that enters the system through the Magalloway. The Magalloway is the source of fresh water that feeds down to Merrymeeting Bay and dumps into the Gulf of Maine.”

By restoring the rivers upstream, RLHT hopes to safeguard water quality and biodiversity for downstream residents and ecosystems.

Looking Ahead

RLHT’s ongoing work in the Kennebago and planned projects in the Magalloway represent a significant step toward healthier, more resilient waterways in western Maine. As the organization continues to replace culverts, re‑meander streams, and enhance habitat, the long‑term benefits will extend far beyond the forests of the Rangeley region, improving water conditions for towns and wetlands downstream and ultimately contributing to the health of the Gulf of Maine.